Ruthenium complexes with tridentate heterocyclic ligand and dye-sensitized solar cells using the same

Abstract

A ruthenium complex is provided. The ruthenium complex is represented by the following Formula (I): in which, X is a monodentate anion ligand, R 1 , R 2 , R 4 and R 5 are the same or different substituents and represent alkyl, alkoxy, aminoalkyl, haloalkanes or substituted phenyl group, carboxylic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, sulfonic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, phosphoric acid group or acid radical salt thereof or hydrogen atom. R 3 represents perhalogenated alkyl group, alkoxy, alkyl, amino, halogens, or hydrogen atom. The ruthenium complexes are suitable for being used as dye-sensitizers for fabricating dye-sensitized solar cells.

1. A ruthenium complex represented by Formula (I) of RuL 1 L 2 X: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein L 1  represents a heterocyclic tridentate ligand with a structural formula (II): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and L 2  represents a bipyridine ligand derivative with a structural formula (III): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 4  and R 5  are the same or different substituents and represent alkyl, alkoxy, aminoalkyl, haloalkanes or substituted phenyl group, carboxylic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, sulfonic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, phosphoric acid group or acid radical salt thereof or hydrogen atom; 
         R 3  represents perhalogenated alkyl group, alkoxy, alkyl, amino, halogens, or hydrogen atom; and 
         X is a monodentate anion ligand. 
       
     
     
       2. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 1  of L 1  represents hydrogen or alkyl. 
     
     
       3. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 2  of L 1  represents hydrogen or alkyl. 
     
     
       4. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 3  of L 1  represents alkyl, perfluorinated alkyl, alkoxy or CF 3 . 
     
     
       5. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 1  of L 1  represents COOH or acid radical salt thereof. 
     
     
       6. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 2  of L 1  represents COOH or acid radical salt thereof. 
     
     
       7. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein L 1  has a structural formula (IV): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       8. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 1  and R 2  of L 1  represent carboxylic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, and R 3  represents CF 3 . 
     
     
       9. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein X is halogens, halogen ions, halogen cyanide ions, sulfur cyanide ion, sulfite ion, or thiosulfate. 
     
     
       10. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein L 2  represents 2,2′-bipyridine. 
     
     
       11. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein R 4  and R 5  of L 2  represent carboxylic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, sulfonic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, phosphoric acid group or acid radical salt thereof. 
     
     
       12. The ruthenium complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein L 2  has a structural formula (V): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       13. A dye-sensitized solar cell device, at least comprising:
 a first electrode, comprising: 
 a transparent conductive substrate; and 
 a porous TiO 2  thin film, formed on a surface of the transparent conductive substrate, for carrying a dye-sensitizer thereon, wherein the dye-sensitizer is a ruthenium complex represented by Formula (I) of RuL 1 L 2 X: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein L 1  is a heterocyclic tridentate ligand having a structural formula (II): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         L 2  is a bipyridine ligand derivative having a structural formula (III): 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         R 1 , R 2 , R 4  and R 5  are the same or different substituents and represent alkyl, alkoxy, aminoalkyl, haloalkanes or substituted phenyl group, carboxylic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, sulfonic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, phosphoric acid group or acid radical salt thereof or hydrogen atom; 
         R 3  represents perhalogenated alkyl group, alkoxy, alkyl, amino, halogens, or hydrogen atom; and 
         X is a monodentate anion ligand; 
         a second electrode; and 
         an electrolyte fluid, located between the surface of the transparent conductive substrate and the second electrode. 
       
     
     
       14. The dye-sensitized solar cell device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein R 1  of L 1  represents hydrogen or alkyl. 
     
     
       15. The dye-sensitized solar cell device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein R 2  of L 1  represents hydrogen or alkyl. 
     
     
       16. The dye-sensitized solar cell device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein R 3  of L 1  represents alkyl, perfluorinated alkyl group, alkoxy or CF 3 . 
     
     
       17. The dye-sensitized solar cell device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein R 1  and R 2  of L 1  represents COOH or acid radical salt thereof. 
     
     
       18. The dye-sensitized solar cell device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein L 1  has a structural formula (IV): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
       19. The dye-sensitized solar cell device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein X is halogen, halogen ions, halogen cyanide ions, sulfur cyanide ion, sulfite ion, or thiosulfate. 
     
     
       20. The dye-sensitized solar cell device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein L 2  represents 2, 2′-bipyridine. 
     
     
       21. The dye-sensitized solar cell device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein R 4  and R 5  of L 2  represent carboxylic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, sulfonic acid group or acid radical salt thereof, phosphoric acid group or acid radical salt thereof.